Effect of exogenous progesterone administration on cigarette smoking-related symptomology in oral contraceptive users who smoke

Katherine Harrison, Ashley Petersen, Nicole Tosun, Katherine Crist, Alicia M. Allen, Sharon Allene

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cigarette smoking-related symptomatology (e.g., craving; SRS) is linked to relapse after a quit attempt. SRS varies by menstrual phase, possibly due to variations in sex hormones (e.g., progesterone), though much of the research to-date has relied on observations from the menstrual cycle acting as a proxy for hormone levels. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of exogenous progesterone on SRS during ad libitum smoking and following overnight abstinence. Oral contraceptive users who smoked completed two 9-day crossover testing periods (7 days of ad libitum smoking and 2 days following overnight abstinence) while taking double-blind active/placebo exogenous progesterone. Participants completed questionnaires to measure SRS. The effect of exogenous progesterone and endogenous hormones (progesterone, estradiol, and progesterone-to-estradiol [P/E2] ratio) on SRS was assessed with paired t-tests and linear mixed effect models. Participants (n = 53) were, on average, 24 years old and smoked 11 cigarettes per day. During ad libitum smoking, a doubling of the P/E2 ratio was associated with 0.09 points lower anticipated relief from negative affect (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03–0.15 points lower; p = 0.008) and 0.11 points lower psychological reward (95% CI: 0.03–0.18 points lower; p = 0.006). After correction for multiple testing, these associations were not statistically significant: anticipated relief from negative effect (p = 0.10) and psychological reward (p = 0.09). No other significant associations were observed. Although substantial previous literature indicates that progesterone influences SRS, exogenous progesterone administration did not alter SRS here. Additional research is needed to elucidate alternative mechanisms involved in menstrual phase effects on SRS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number106148
JournalAddictive Behaviors
Volume102
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Cigarette smoking-related symptomatology
  • Progesterone
  • Sex hormones
  • Women's health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Toxicology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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